Binding means and method



May 7, 1968 J c. THOMAS 3,381,989

BINDING MEANS AND METHOD Filed Nov. 18, 1965 FIG. 2 2o W1r\\ I INVENTOR.

JOHN C. THOMAS I BY Wk. Mm;

.EL LQ ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,381,989 BINDING MEANS AND METHOD John C. Thomas,451 Queensboro Lane, Haddonfield, NJ. 08033 Filed Nov. 18, 1965, Ser.No. 508,483 9 Claims. (Cl. 289-12) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention is essentially concerned with binding means and method whereinan elongated flexible tie is wrapped about a resiliently constrictablemember with overlapping tie portions relatively slidable for engagementof a later wound tie portion beneath an earlier wound tie portion uponapplication of tension to maintain the tie in position.

This invention relates to means for binding, tying, lashing and thelike.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developedand employed for use in protective articles of clothing, such as glovesand boots, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter withparticular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the advantageousfeatures of the instant invention are capable of many variedapplications, wherever the instant binding action is desired, as in atourniquet, and many other applications which will be apparent to thoseskilled in various fields, and that all such applications intended to becomprehended herein.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a uniquebinding or tying means wherein it is only necessary to wrap a tie memberabout an object being bound with some degree of tension in the tiememher, and the desired binding action automatically ensues.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide abinding or tying means of the type described which is extremely quickand simple to employ, substantially foolproof in use, and which may beeffectively employed by unskilled personnel.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide abinding or tying means having the advantageous characteristics mentionedin the preceding paragraphs, wherein a flexible tie is wrapped about aresiliently constrictable member, so that a later-wrapped portion of thetie engages beneath an earlier-wrapped tie portion, and the resilientrestoring force of the constricted member serves to maintain theengaging tie portions in firm holding relationship.

Other objects of the present invention will become ap parent uponreading the following specification and referring to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing a hand covering or mitten constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, and partlybroken away for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view illustrating an initial stage in binding thewrist portion of a mitten about a wearer's wrist;

FIGURE 4 is a top view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing a later stage inthe binding operation;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the binding operation,as within the dashed lines of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a top view similar to FIGURES 3 and 4, showing a final stagein the binding operation;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating a tourniquet constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a side view illustrating the tourniquet of FIGURE 7 inoperative condition; and

FIGURE 9 is a side view illustrating a boot constructed in accordancewith the teachings of the instant invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically toFIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, a hand covering in the form of a mitten isthere generally designated 10, and includes a hand-receiving portion 11,and a generally tubular wrist-receiving portion 12. In its broad aspect,the hand covering 10 may be considered as a receptacle, container orbag, and it may be so employed, if desired, the instant binding meansserving to bind the tubular part 12 closed.

However, as a mitten or glove, the hand covering 10 includes inner andouter fabric layers 13 and 14, and an intermediate layer of insulatingpadding 15, or the like. The composite of inner and outer fabric layers13 and 14, and intermediate insulating layer 15 results in a resilientlycompressible material. The tubular wrist part 12 may thus be consideredas resiliently constrictable upon compression. Other materials may beemployed having the resiliently compressible or constrictablecharacteristics.

An elongate flexible tie is generally designated 17, and has one endportion 18 suitably secured or anchored to the resiliently compressiblehand covering or member 10. More specifically, the tie end 18 isanchored at the constrictable wrist part 12 of member 10, as by asecuring piece 19 stitched to both the tie and tubular member or twistpart 12, as by stitching 20. The other end 21 of tie 17, remote from theanchored end 18, is free or unsecured in the condition shown inFIGURE 1. In practice, the tie 17 is advantageously fabricated of anarrow striplike material, having a flat cross section as seen in FIGURE2, and may have its external surfaces waxed for free sliding engagementwith the external surface of outer mitten layer 14.

An initial stage of the binding or tying operation is illustrated inFIGURE 3, the hand covering 10 being in place upon the hand 22 of awearer. The tie 17 is wound about the wrist part 12 of the hand coveringin the direction of arrow 23. Continued winding of the tie 17 about thewrist portion 12 is shown in FIGURE 4, there being illustrated a firstconvolution 25 of the tie, a second convolution 26, and the beginning ofa third convolution 27. In practice it has been found that satisfactoryresults may be obtained with as little as one and one-half convolutionsof the tie 17, but two or more convolutions may be employed, asillustrated.

During the winding or wrapping operation shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, atleast some tension is applied to the tie 17 by the winding hand 28adjacent to the free end 21 of the tie. This application of tensionadjacent to the free tie end 21 tends to tighten the later-woundportions relative to the earlier-wound portions, so that the later-woundportions slip or slide on the surface of wrist part 12 beneath theearlier-wound portions of the tie. Thus, the second convolution 26 slipsbeneath the first convolution 25, as indicated by the arrow 30, whilethe third convolution 27 slips beneath the second convolution 26, asindicated by the arrow 31. Upon the application of increased tensionadjacent to the free end of tie 17, the wrist part 12 is resilientlyconstricted, see FIG- URE 6, radially inward of the wound tieconvolutions, so that the trough of the constriction further aids in thesliding engagement of later convolutions beneath earlier convolutions.When the winding of convolutions 25, 26 and 27 has been completed, thefree end 21 of tie 17 may be tensioned, as in the direction of arrow 32in FIGURE 6 by the users hand 28 to complete the above-describedrelative sliding engagement of tie convolutions and resilientconstriction of the wrist part 12. Upon release of the free tie end 21by the hand 28, the resilient restoring force of the constricted wristpart 12 presses each convolution firmly against its next adjacent outerconvolution to maintain the convolutions in firm holding engagement witheach other and secure the firm binding action achieved in FIGURE 6without further holding of the tie. When it is desired to remove thetie, the free tie end 21 may be wound in the opposite direction forquick and easy release of the binding action.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8 is shown a tourniquet, generallydesignated 35, and including an elongate bandage 36 of resilientlycompressible material, and an elongate flexible tie 37 having one endanchored or suitably secured, as at 38 to the bandage 36.

In use, it is only required that the bandage be partially wrapped abouta patients limb, such as the leg 39 shown in FIGURE 8, and the tie 37wound at least appreciably more than one time about the limb undertension sufficient to effect sliding engagement of a later-wound tieconvolution portion into a constriction of the bandage and beneath anearlier-wound tie portion. Preferably the tie would pass over thebandage or more resilient material at least twice to achieve thedescribed binding action. Of course, removal of the tourniquet 35 isquickly and easily elfected by mere unwinding of the tie 37.

While the device of FIGURE 7 has been described as a tourniquet, it willbe readily understood that such device may be employed as a binding ortie means for any desired article or articles, say the lashing togetherof timber, or the like. For example, long lengths of timber may belashed together by any desired number of loops merely winding the tiemeans directly about the timber and by engaging suitable resilientmaterial in the final loops.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 9 there is shown a boot 40 in position onthe foot of a wearer and having a leg part 41 of resilientlycompressible material. A tie 42 has one end anchored to the leg part 41and is wound thereabout under tension to secure the leg part closelyabout the wearers leg, in the same manner as described hereinbefore.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides abinding or tying means which fully accomplishes its intended objects andis well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and useunder widely varying circumstances.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Binding means comprising a resiliently constrictable member, and anelongate flexible tie having one end anchored to said member, said tiebeing of relatively flat cross section and a length greater than thecircumference of said member, said member being resilientlyconstrictable by the application of tension to the other end of said tiewound around said member, and said member and tie having relativelyslidable surfaces for sliding engagement of a later-wound tie portioninto a member constriction beneath an earlier-wound tie portion uponsaid application of tension, whereby the resilient restoring force ofsaid member maintains said tie portions in firm holding engagement.

2. Binding means according to claim 1, said member being generallytubular for receiving therein a relatively incompressible article.

3. Binding means according to claim 1, said member comprising areceptacle having an open neck, said one tie end being anchored to saidneck.

4. Binding means according to claim 1, said member having an elongateconfiguration for wrapping about an article.

5. Binding means according to claim 1, said member comprising a handcovering, said one tie end being anchored to the wrist portion of saidhand covering.

6. Binding means according to claim 1, said member comprising a footcovering, said one tie end being anchored to the leg portion of saidfoot covering.

7. Binding means according to claim 1, said member colmpgising a bandagefor application as a tourniquet to a 1m 8. In the method of binding, thesteps which comprise: providing a resiliently constrictable member andan elongate flexible tie having one end anchored to said member;engaging said member about an article to be bound; winding the tie aboutsaid member at least more than once; and tensioning said wound tie toconstrict said member and engage a later-wound tie portion beneath anearlier-wound tie portion; whereby the resilient restoring force of saidmember maintains said tie portions in firm holding engagement.

9. The method of binding according to claim 8, wherein said tensioningis effected by pulling the free tie end to effect lateral sliding of thelater-wound tie portion between the earlier-wound tie portion andmembers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,252,900 1/1918 Grinnell 2-169LOUIS K. RI'MRODT, Primary Examiner.

